Vehicle operator performance history recording, scoring and reporting systems

ABSTRACT

Vehicle operator performance history recording and reporting systems include devices and methods of automatically collecting and processing vehicle crash or event data over time to form a driver history report. A driver history report may include many factors to express performance or quality of driver service, and these may be reduced to a single value normalized expression in view of a collection of many drivers. Vehicle event recorders are arranged to capture data relating to a particular event. These vehicle event recorders are further coupled to systems which form an association between collected data and the vehicle operator in command of the vehicle at the event moment. Systems provide means for long-term storage of data particularly data in a structure which preserves the association between a driver and event records attributed to him/her. Special recall operations executed against stored data yields operator performance reporting—including a single value performance score indicative of a vehicle operator&#39;s performance and safety history. An analyzer system operates to recall data, particularly data from a plurality of events all associated with a single operator but recorded over an extended period of time. Data is arranged such that other mathematical analysis may be applied independently to various data elements or data “fields” to produce performance metrics and ratios which reflect performance. Together, these factors may each be weighted and summed in accordance with specially devised a formulae including those having a single value solution.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONS

1. Field

The following invention disclosure is generally concerned with vehicleoperator scoring and reporting and specifically concerned with automatedsystems which maintain a performance history associated with particulardrivers.

2. Prior Art

The inventions presented in U.S. Pat. No. 6,947,817 by inventor Diem fornon-intrusive diagnostic tools for testing oxygen sensor operationrelates to a diagnostic system for testing a vehicle where such systemsinclude a wireless communications link between a vehicle any remotenetwork of server computers. In particular, a WiFi type access pointsallowed an analyzer to communicate by way the Internet with a servercomputer hosting and oxygen sensor SOAP (simple object access protocol)service. In a nutshell, the system relates to smog sensors forautomobiles which communicate with remote servers by way of a WiFicommunications links.

Video surveillance systems are used to provide video records of events,incidents, happenings, et cetera in locations of special interest. Forexample, retail banking offices are generally protected with videosurveillance systems which provide video evidence in case of robbery.While video surveillance systems are generally used in fixed locationscenarios, mobile video surveillance systems are also commonly usedtoday.

In particular, video systems have been configured for use in conjunctionwith an automobile and especially for use with police cruiser typeautomobiles. As a police cruiser is frequently quite near the scene ofan active crime, important image information may be captured by videocameras installed on the police cruiser. Specific activity of interestwhich may occur about an automobile is not always associated with crimeand criminals. Sometimes events which occur in the environmentsimmediately about an automobile are of interest for reasons havingnothing to do with crime. In example, a simple traffic accident wheretwo cars come together in a collision may be the subject of videoevidence of value. Events and circumstances leading up to the collisionaccident may be preserved such that an accurate reconstruction can becreated. This information is useful when trying come to a determinationas to cause, fault and liability. As such, general use of video systemsin conjunction with automobiles is quickly becoming an important tooluseful for the protection of all. Some examples of the systems areillustrated below with reference to pertinent documents.

Inventor Schmidt presents in U.S. Pat. No. 5,570,127, a video recordingsystem for a passenger vehicle, namely a school bus, which has two videocameras one for an inside bus view and one for a traffic view, a singlerecorder, and a system whereby the two cameras are multiplexed atappropriate times, to the recording device. A switching signaldetermines which of the two video cameras is in communication with thevideo recorder so as to view passengers on the passenger vehicle atcertain times and passing traffic at other times.

Thomas Doyle of San Diego, Calif. and QUALCOMM Inc. also of San Diego,present an invention for a method and apparatus for detecting faultconditions in a vehicle data recording device to detect tampering orunauthorized access, in U.S. Pat. No. 5,586,130. The system includesvehicle sensors for monitoring one or more operational parameters of thevehicle. The fault detection technique contemplates storing a currenttime value at regular intervals during periods in which the recordingdevice is provided with a source of main power. Inventor Doyle alsoteaches in the U.S. Pat. No. 5,815,071, a method and apparatus formonitoring parameters of vehicle electronic control units.

A “computerized vehicle log” is presented by Dan Kikinis of SaratogaCalif. in U.S. Pat. No. 5,815,093. The vehicle accident recording systememploys a digital camera connected to a controller in nonvolatilememory, and an accident sensing interrupter. The oldest memory isoverwritten by the newest images, until an accident is detected at whichtime the memory is blocked from further overwrites to protect the morevital images, which may include important information about theaccident. Mr. Kikinis instructs that in preferred embodiments, thesystem has a communications port whereby stored images are downloadedafter an accident to a digital device capable of displaying images. Thisfeature is described in greater detail in the specification whichindicates a wired download to a server having specialized image handlingand processing software thereon.

Inventor Mr. Turner of Compton, Calif., no less, teaches an antitheftdevice for an automotive vehicle having both an audible alarm and visualmonitor system. Video monitor operators are responsible for monitoringand handling an emergency situation and informing a 911 emergencystation. This system is presented in U.S. Pat. No. 6,002,326.

A vehicle accident video recorder, in particular, a railroad vehicleaccident video recorder, is taught by inventors Cox et al. In thissystem, a method and monitoring unit for recording the status of therailroad vehicle prior to a potential accident is presented. Themonitoring unit continuously monitors the status of an emergency brakeof the railroad vehicle and the status of a horn of the railroadvehicle. Video images are recorded and captured for a predeterminedperiod of time after detecting that the emergency brake or horn blasthas been applied as an event trigger. This invention is the subject ofU.S. Pat. No. 6,088,635.

A vehicle crash data recorder is presented by inventor Ferguson ofBellaire, Ohio in U.S. Pat. No. 6,185,490. The apparatus is arrangedwith a three stage memory to record and retain information. And furtherit is equipped with a series and parallel connectors to provide instanton-scene access to accident data. It is important to note that Fergusonfinds it important to include the possibility of on-site access to thedata. Further, that Ferguson teaches use of a wired connection in theform of a serial or parallel hardwire connector. This teaching ofFerguson is common in many advanced systems configured as vehicle eventrecorders.

A traffic accident data recorder and traffic accident reproductionsystem and method is presented as U.S. Pat. No. 6,246,933. A pluralityof sensors for registering vehicle operation parameters including atleast one vehicle mounted digital video, audio camera is included forsensing storing and updating operational parameters. A rewritable,nonvolatile memory is provided for storing those processed operationalparameters and video images and audio signals, which are provided by themicroprocessor controller. Data is converted to a computer readable formand read by a computer such that an accident can be reconstructed viadata collected.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,298,290 presented by Abe et al, teaches a memoryapparatus for vehicle information data. A plurality of sensors includinga CCD camera collision center of vehicle speed sensors, steering anglesensor, brake pressure sensor, acceleration sensor, are all coupled to acontrol unit. Further, the control unit passes information to a flashmemory and a RAM memory subject to an encoder. The information collectedis passed through a video output terminal. This illustrates anotherhardwire system and the importance placed by experts in the art on acomputer hardware interface. This is partly due to the fact that videosystems are typically data intensive and wired systems are necessary asthey have bandwidth sufficient for transfers of large amounts of data.

Mazzilli of Bayside, N.Y. teaches in U.S. Pat. No. 6,333,759 a 360°automobile video camera system. A complex mechanical mount provides fora single camera to adjust its viewing angle giving a 360° range forvideo recording inside and outside of an automotive vehicle.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,389,339 granted to Inventor Just, of Alpharetta, Ga.teaches a vehicle operation monitoring system and method. Operation of avehicle is monitored with an onboard video camera linked with a radiotransceiver. A monitoring service includes a cellular telecommunicationsnetwork to view a video data received from the transceiver to ahome-base computer. These systems are aimed at parental monitoring ofadolescent driving. The mobile modem is designed for transmitting livevideo information into the network as the vehicle travels.

Morgan, Hausman, Chilek, Hubenak, Kappler, Witz, and Wright with theirheads together invented an advanced law enforcement and responsetechnology in U.S. Pat. No. 6,411,874 granted Jun. 25, 2002. A centralcontrol system affords intuitive and easy control of numerous subsystemsassociated with a police car or other emergency vehicle. This highlyintegrated system provides advanced control apparatus which drives aplurality of detector systems including video and audio systemsdistributed about the vehicle. A primary feature included in this deviceincludes an advanced user interface and display system, which permitshigh level driver interaction with the system.

Inventor Lambert teaches in U.S. Pat. No. 6,421,080 a “digitalsurveillance system with pre-event recording”. Pre-event recording isimportant in accident recording systems, because detection of theaccident generally happens after the accident has occurred. A firstmemory is used for temporary storage. Images are stored in the temporarystorage continuously until a trigger is activated which indicates anaccident has occurred at which time images are transferred to a morepermanent memory.

Systems taught by Gary Rayner in U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,389,340; 6,405,112;6,449,540; and 6,718,239, each directed to cameras for automobiles whichcapture video images, both of forward-looking and driver views, andstore recorded images locally on a mass storage system. An operator, atthe end of the vehicle service day, puts a wired connector into a deviceport and downloads information into a desktop computer system havingspecialized application software whereby the images and otherinformation can be played-back and analyzed at a highly integrated userdisplay interface.

It is not possible in the systems Rayner teaches for an administrativeoperator to manipulate or otherwise handle the data captured in thevehicle at an off-site location without human intervention. It isnecessary for a download operator to transfer data captured from therecorder unit device to a disconnected computer system. Whileproprietary ‘DriveCam’ files can be e-mailed or otherwise transferredthrough the Internet, those files are in a format with a can only bedigested by desktop software running at a remote computer. It isnecessary to have the DriveCam desktop application on the remotecomputer. In order that the files be properly read. In this way, datacaptured by the vehicles is totally unavailable to some parties havingan interest in the data. Namely those parties who do not have access toa computer appropriately arranged with the specific DriveCam applicationsoftware. A second and major disadvantage is systems presented by Raynerincludes necessity that a human operator service the equipment each dayin a manual download action.

Remote reporting and manipulation of automobile systems is not entirelynew. The following are very important teachings relating to someautomobile systems having a wireless communications link component.

Inventors Fan et al, teach inventions of methods and systems fordetecting vehicle collision using global positioning system GPS. Thedisclosure of Jun. 12, 2001 resulted in granted patent having U.S. Pat.No. 6,459,988. A GPS receiver is combined with wireless technology toautomatically report accident and third parties remotely located. Asystem uses the GPS signals to determine when an acceleration valueexceeds the preset threshold which is meant to be indicative of anaccident having occurred.

Of particular interest include inventions presented by inventors Nagdaet al., in the document numbered U.S. Pat. No. 6,862,524 entitled usinglocation data to determine trafficking route information. In this systemfor determining and disseminating traffic information or routeinformation, traffic condition information is collected from mobileunits that provide their location or position information. Further routeinformation may be utilized to determine whether a mobile unit isallowed or prohibited from traveling along a certain route.

A common assignee, @Road Inc., owns the preceding two patents inaddition to the following: U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,529,159; 6,552,682;6,594,576; 6,664,922; 6,795,017; 6,832,140; 6,867,733; 6,882,313; and6,922,566. As such, @Road Inc., must be considered a major innovator inposition technologies arts as they relate to mobile vehicles and remoteserver computers.

General Motors Corp. teaches in U.S. Pat. No. 6,728,612, an automatedtelematics test system and method. The invention provides a method andsystem testing a telematics system in a mobile vehicle a test commandfrom a test center to a call center is based on a test script. Themobile vehicle is continuously in contact by way of cellularcommunication networks with a remotely located host computer.

Inventor Earl Diem and Delphi Technologies Inc., had granted to them onSep. 20, 2005, U.S. Pat. No. 6,947,817. The non-intrusive diagnostictool for sensing oxygen sensor operation include a scheme or an oxygenanalyzer deployed in a mobile vehicle communicates by way of an accesspoint to a remotely located server. A diagnostic heuristic is used toanalyze the data and confirm proper operation of the sensor. Analysismay be performed by a mainframe computer quickly note from the actualoxygen sensor.

Similar patents including special relationships between mobile vehiclesand remote host computers include those presented by various inventorsin U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,735,503; 6,739,078; 6,760,757; 6,810,362; 6,832,141;and 6,850,823.

Another special group of inventions owned by Reynolds and ReynoldsHolding Inc., is taught first by Lightner et al, in U.S. Pat. No.6,928,348 issued Aug. 9, 2005. In these inventions, Internet basedemission tests are performed on vehicles having special wirelesscouplings to computer networks. Data may be further transferred toentities of particular interest including the EPA or California AirResources Board, for example, or particular insurance companies andother organizations concerned with vehicle emissions and environment.

Other patents held by Reynolds and Reynolds Holding Inc., include thoserelating to reporting of automobile performance parameters to remoteservers via wireless links. Specifically, an onboard data bus OBD systemis coupled to a microprocessor, by way of a standard electricalconnector. The microprocessor periodically receives data and transmitsit into the wireless communications system. This information is morefully described in U.S. patent granted Oct. 21, 2003 U.S. Pat. No.6,636,790. Inventors Lightner et al, present method and apparatus forremotely characterizing the vehicle performance. Data at the onboarddata by his periodically received by a microprocessor and passed into alocal transmitter. The invention specifically calls out transmission ofdata on a predetermined time interval. Thus these inventions do notanticipate nor include processing and analysis steps which result indata being passed at time other than expiration of the predeterminedtime period.

Reynolds and Reynolds Holding Inc., further describes systems wheremotor vehicles are coupled by wireless communications links to remotehost servers in U.S. Pat. No. 6,732,031.

Additionally, recent developments are expressed in application for U.S.patent having document number: 2006/0095175 published on May 4, 2006.This disclosure describes a comprehensive systems having many importantcomponents. In particular, deWaal et al presents a ‘crash survivableapparatus’ in which information may be processed and recorded for latertransmission into related coupled systems. An ability to rate a driverperformance based upon data captured is particular feature described issome detail.

Also, inventor Boykin of Mt. Juliet Tennessee presents a “compositemobile digital information system” in U.S. Pat. No. 6,831,556. In thesesystems, a mobile server capable of transmitting captured informationfrom a vehicle to a second location such as a building is described. Inparticular, a surveillance system for capturing video, audio, and datainformation is provided in a vehicle.

Inventors Lao et al, teach in their publication numbered 2005/0099498 ofa “Digital Video System-Intelligent Information Management System” whichis another application for U.S. patent published May 12, 2005. A digitalvideo information management system for monitoring and managing a systemof digital collection devices is specified. A central database receivessimilar information from a plurality of distributed coupled systems.Those distributed systems may also be subject to reset and updateoperations via the centralized server.

Finally, “Mobile and Vehicle-Based Digital Video System” is the title ofU.S. patent application disclosure publication numbered 2005/0100329also published on May 12, 2005. It also describes a vehicle based videocapture and management system with digital recording devices optimizedfor field use. Because these systems deploy non-removable media formemory, they are necessarily coupled to data handling systems viavarious communications links to convey captured data to analysisservers.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONS

Comes now, James Plante, Gregory Mauro, Ramesh Kasavaraju and AndrewNickerson with inventions of vehicle operator performance historyrecording and reporting systems including devices and methods ofautomatically collecting and processing data over time to form a driverhistory report comprising performance information collected over adiscrete time period.

Vehicle event recorders arranged to capture data relating to aparticular event are additionally coupled to a system which forms anassociation between collected data and the vehicle operator. Thesesystems further provide means for long-term'storage of data relating toparticular operators and events. Special recall operations executedagainst data stored as described, permits compilation of an operatorperformance report including a single value performance score. Thesingle value operator performance score is indicative of a vehicleoperator's performance and safety history.

A special system is provided to connect and associate collected data tothe operator responsible for triggering an event. Once an appropriateassociation is made, information is kept in long-term storage where itmay be joined by data from events occurring at a later time. An analyzersystem operates to recall data, particularly data from a plurality ofevents all associated with a single operator but recorded over anextended period of time. Data is arranged in a manner such thatalgorithms and other mathematical analysis may be applied independentlyto various data elements or “fields” to produce performance metrics andratios. Together, these factors may each be weighted and summed inaccordance with specially devised a formulae including those having asingle value solution. In best versions, this performance score may benormalized to a value between one and zero, where values closer to onerepresent the best operators enrolled in the program and values nearerzero reflect those operators of lowest performance. Thus, these systemsprovide a highly useful metric which quantifies operator performancehistory.

OBJECTIVES OF THE INVENTIONS

It is a primary object of these inventions to provide advanced recordingand reporting systems for motor vehicle exception events.

It is an object of these inventions to provide automated vehicleoperator performance measure, recording and reporting systems.

It is a further object to provide automated vehicle operator performancetracking and history systems.

A better understanding can be had with reference to detailed descriptionof preferred embodiments and with reference to appended drawings.Embodiments presented are particular ways to realize these inventionsand are not inclusive of all ways possible. Therefore, there may existembodiments that do not deviate from the spirit and scope of thisdisclosure as set forth by appended claims, but do not appear here asspecific examples. It will be appreciated that a great plurality ofalternative versions are possible.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIGURES

These and other features, aspects, and advantages of the presentinvention will become better understood with regard to the followingdescription, appended claims and drawings where:

FIG. 1 is top-level block diagram to illustrate system primary elements;

FIG. 2 is a brief example collection of datasets to illustrateassociations with a particular operator;

FIG. 3 is detailed block diagram further setting forth importantelements of apparatus of these systems;

FIG. 4 illustrates in block diagram fundamental methods of thesesystems; and

FIG. 5 illustrates in further detail some preferred methods.

GLOSSARY OF SPECIAL TERMS

Throughout this disclosure, reference is made to some terms which may ormay not be exactly defined in popular dictionaries as they are definedhere. To provide a more precise disclosure, the following terms arepresented with a view to clarity so that the true breadth and scope maybe more readily appreciated. Although every attempt is made to beprecise and thorough, it is a necessary condition that not all meaningsassociated with each term can be completely set forth. Accordingly, eachterm is intended to also include its common meaning which may be derivedfrom general usage within the pertinent arts or by dictionary meaning.Where the presented definition is in conflict with a dictionary or artsdefinition, one must use the context of use and liberal discretion toarrive at an intended meaning. One will be well advised to error on theside of attaching broader meanings to terms used in order to fullyappreciate the depth of the teaching and to understand all the intendedvariations.

Vehicle Event Recorder—VER

A vehicle event recorder is an electronic instrument coupled to anautomobile and its environments to capture data in response to adetected exception or prescribed condition or ‘event’.

Vehicle Operator

The terms: ‘operator’, ‘vehicle operator’, or ‘driver’ herein means aperson who operates or has operated a motor vehicle—for purposes ofthese inventions, a vehicle operator has one and only one uniqueidentifying code associated therewith.

Event

An exception event occurs in a discrete time period surroundingdetection of a prescribed condition. An exception event is declared upontoggle of a trigger mechanism which may be coupled to manual orautomatic means of activating the trigger mechanism. An example of anexception event of particular interest, a vehicle involved in a crashsubject high impact forces causes an accelerometer type trigger to betoggled resulting in a data capture action where data collected bothbefore and after the event is captured and stored.

Event Record

An ‘event record’ is captured data associated with a particular eventrelating to the use and performance of an automobile including video anddiscrete numeric data.

Event Record Dataset

An event record dataset is a combination of an event record, a vehicleoperator identifier and an association between the two.

Report

A report is an output compiled from information stored in time from aplurality of exception events captured separately over an extendedperiod.

Single Value Score

A single value score is a vehicle operator performance parameter ormetric expressed numerically as a single value.

Preferred Embodiments of these Inventions

In accordance with each of the preferred embodiments of theseinventions, apparatus for and methods of providing vehicle operatorperformance history recording and reporting are provided. It will beappreciated that each of embodiments described include both apparatusand method and that the apparatus and method of one preferred embodimentmay be different than the apparatus and method of another embodiment.

Vehicle event recorders are arranged to capture video and discretenumeric data associated with a specific exception event in connectionwith a trigger; the captured video relating in-part to vehicle anddriver performance. A vehicle event recorder also captures vehiclesystems status information similarly in connection with a triggeredevent. Together, these data form an ‘event record’, which is effectivelya detailed documentation of conditions relating to the nature of theevent.

While a vehicle event recorder may include digitized and system statusinformation, the data is not otherwise associated or connected with anyvehicle operator. That is, an event record does not include attachmentto the vehicle operator. Vehicle event recorders and their associatedprocessing systems heretofore have not included automated means ofidentifying a unique driver. In some versions, event recorders of thearts may include one or more images of a driver, images from which adriver identity might be taken in a mental step process, i.e. a humanrecognition process, event recorders otherwise contain no discreteidentity information with respect to operators.

In the systems first presented, a system component is an associatorarranged to receive event records, further to receive discrete identityinformation from an operator ID system, and to form an associationbetween the two thus connecting and enjoining them as an event recorddataset. The associator, then transmits the dataset to a database forlong-term storage. An analyzer may query the database to fetch selectrecords in accordance with a particular request design. In somepreferred versions, such requests may come from a user interface whichpermits human configuration of such requests.

Datasets/resultset may be recalled and transmitted from the database tothe analyzer which includes an algorithm library. Thesedatasets/resultset are formed of many elements or sometimes “datafields”. Algorithms may include mathematical operations which operatewith regard to a particular data field or fields to produce a desiredoutput. For example, when a group of datasets are recalled each havingthe same operator as defined by the operator ID, an algorithm may beapplied to make a determination as to driving performance withparticular regard to a specific vehicle operator. A group of data sets,all relating to a different event associated with the same driver can beanalyzed for speed violations in example. It may be determined forexample, that a particular driver had three speed violations during thelast month. A report to reflect such a determination is prepared as anoperator performance measure.

The system is comprised of the primary elements including: andassociator; a database; and an analyzer. The associator receives asinput event records and vehicle operator identification information. Theassociator forms an association between these data elements. Operatoridentification information which identifies a “current operator”, i.e.the operator who is operating the vehicle at the time of the occurrenceof a declared exception event. Event record information is produced as aresult of the event having occurred. Thus, it is some instant in timewhich connects a vehicle operator with captured event data. Theassociator forms the event record dataset and transmits that dataset asoutput to a database with which it is in communicative relation.

The database is arranged to receive event record datasets in a formwhich contains information about the physical nature of a vehicle andits environment during an event; information about driver/vehicleidentity; as well as an association between these information records,whereby precisely one driver identity is associated with each event. Thedatabase is further arranged to provide output in response to requestsor queries from exterior data consumers. Responses may be providedwhereby a search filtered on specific indices produces a resultsetcomprising a plurality of datasets with a common factor; for example aunique vehicle operator. In this way, the database may provide aresultset to an analyzer of all events having an association with aspecific driver. Of course other result sets of various specificationare similarly arranged.

An analyzer is communicatively coupled to a database whereby it may makequeries or requests for information and further receive data provided asdatabase responses. The analyzer is provided with means to processreceived data to form statistical results. The analyzer might applyselect algorithms to received data, the algorithms operating on specificelements of the datasets to yield a mathematical conclusion.

Thus, an associator is arranged to: receive event records; receiveidentification information; to form an association therebetween thisforming prescribed data sets; and further to transmit those datasets toa database of suitable structure. The database is arranged to passresultsets to an analyzer which applies various analysis in producing astatistical representation of a plurality of associated events. Theseare the primary elements of preferred versions of these systems.

While the preceding description presents in detail some important keyelements and their relationships with others, important minorityelements are also present and arranged to cooperate with those keyelements as well as other minority elements. Minority elements include:operator/vehicle identification systems; vehicle event recorders;vehicle systems sensors and transducers; event trigger; user interface;algorithm library; operator performance measure reports; and finally anoperator performance coefficient.

In these systems, some preferred versions include means of conveyance ofvehicle operator identity. Vehicle operator identity must first bediscretized and further must be unique with respect to each personauthorized to operate suitably equipped vehicles. While persons in aroom, each being familiar with the other, may identify which of theothers is “Fred”, such human recognition is a straightforward operationfor the human mind—but providing unique identities of persons incomputer systems demand a bit of overhead. A discrete value identitycode assignment is made for each valid operator. When an operatorinitiates use of a vehicle, an operator ID system determines theidentity code associated with the operator and provides if to theassociator.

In some preferred implementations, operator ID systems include a tactileinput which permits users to express their identity by a key pad entry.Once a user keys in his/her code, the operator identity system canthereafter report accurately to the associator who is operating thevehicle. Events occurring during periods following ID entry can beproperly allocated to the actual operator of the vehicle. Other operatorID schemes may be deployed in alternative versions of operator IDsystems. In one such alternative, a scheduling program may assign aparticular driver a particular vehicle on a certain day and at a certaintime report the assignment to the operator ID system which then passesthe ID info into the associator as it receives event records.Accordingly, some operator ID systems are “on-board” and some are“off-board”. While in some preferred versions it is anticipated that anoperator ID system will be established as an on-board integrated with avehicle event recorder; it is important to point out that this isentirely possible to create an alternative where the operator ID systemis instead deployed as a subsystem exterior to the vehicle and vehicleevent recorder.

An event record dataset is prepared by the associator for long-termstorage in a database. An event record dataset includes an event record;an operator identifier and sometimes a vehicle identifier; and anassociation therebetween. As soon as event record data is joined with anoperator/vehicle identifier, it is an event record dataset for purposesof this disclosure.

Since an event record arises from a single event in which only oneoperator may be on station, there exists a certain ‘one-to-one’correspondence between any vehicle operator and any single event record.However many event record datasets may be compiled over time and each ofthose may include the same operator. So, there is a ‘one-to-many’relationship between any vehicle operator and the event record datasetswhich may be stored in a database. In fact, an event record dataset onlycomes into existence as a result of an event having occurred and inthese systems it is preferred that for each event which occurs, an eventrecord dataset is formed.

An analyzer further includes an algorithm library. An algorithm libraryis stored set of algorithms which may be selectively invoked and appliedto a group of datasets. Algorithms may be applied individually, or maybe applied serially one after another. A properly arranged algorithmapplied to a select group of datasets can yield a performance metricresult. In best versions, an operator performance measure output isgenerated as a result of an algorithm being applied to a select group ofdatasets. And operator performance measure may include statisticalcompilation and presentation of data analysis which reflects performancewith regard to particular operator, group of operators, vehicle or groupof vehicles.

An operator or vehicle performance report O/V-PR is a report containingstatistical information regarding the performance of a vehicle operatoror vehicle operation. An operator performance report is an output froman analyzer which applies any of a prescribed group of algorithms to aplurality of event record dataset records; those datasets having beencreated over some extended period of time. Thus an O/V-PR is andhistorical account of events having occurred with particular connectionto a certain driver or vehicle. Exception events which may occur fromtime-to-time result in production of data describing and documenting theevent. Those data are associated with a particular operator identity andstored over time. An analyzer applies certain algorithms to datarecalled from memory to produce a statistical report; an O/V-PR istherefore a compilation of analyzed data to produce results whichexpresses the historical nature of a vehicle operator's or vehicle'sperformance. An O/V-PR may be based upon all events captured over aspecified period of time and is sometimes comprised of a plurality ofweighted factors.

FIG. 1 illustrates an example arrangement of major system componentsfrom which these systems are formed. In brief, these systems areprimarily comprised of an associator 1, connected via communicationslink to computer based relational database 2, further in communicationswith an analyzer 3 implemented as a computer system. The associator isarranged to receive an information package formed as an event record 4,as well as operator identification and sometimes vehicle identificationinformation. Upon receipt of these information elements, the associatorforms an association between them to effect an event record dataset. Asingle data record is formed in a structure which preserves theassociation between the event record and the operator/vehicleidentification information and which further supports storage andmanipulation by relational database type computing and storage systems.These arrangements of information may be embodied as a dataset which isassigned an ‘index’ or ‘key’ value to further assure and maintain theintegrity of the information collection as a single unit. An analyzer isin two-way communication 7 with the database such that it can runqueries against data stored therein and receive resultsets after thosequeries are executed. Finally, the analyzer is arranged to assembleprocess and analyze results received from the database and to output anoperator performance measures to external systems.

A vehicle event recorder captures data relative to the operationalstates of vehicle subsystems as well as video images of environmentsabout a vehicle while in use. Operational states of a vehicle may bereported to the vehicle event recorder by way of an on-board diagnosticssystem OBD which maintains monitoring of vehicle subsystems by varioussensors so arranged. Data is captured upon detection of a specialcircumstance or unusual condition. A trigger may be devised to detect anunusual physical condition such as heavy shock or excessive speed. Upondetection of the condition, the trigger declares an exception event andinitiates a data capture operation. An exception event is declared andthe data capture action is performed during a brief time around thedeclared event moment. This captured information is connected with theparticular vehicle operator authorized to use the vehicle at the timethe information is captured by way of an operator identity code.Together, this information is stored at the database as a singleinformation unit or ‘record’.

While it is possible to perform limited analysis on single eventrecords, the true value of these systems is only realized when aplurality of events are analyzed via mathematical relationships whichare applied to common elements (fields) between separate recordscaptured at various times. That is, a first event record is stored inthe database until another independent event occurs and that eventrecord data is also added to the database. Under such circumstances,certain algorithms become very useful in expressing the performancequality of a particular operator of a vehicle or operators of a fleet ofvehicles. A database may be arranged to receive records for manydifferent operators, different vehicles, and even different fleets. Whenanalysis is performed, records may be sorted and included/excluded fromanalysis on the basis of many considerations embodied as data fields.

FIG. 2 is provided to illustrate a database grid comprising 11 separatedataset records each associated with an exception event occurring at adifferent time. All 11 records are associated with a unique vehicleoperator 21 identified as “Jones”. The event data records illustratedinclude information relating to whether an infraction 22 is involved,whether it is a speeding 23 case, and whether the event involves anaccident 24. In addition, the date 25 of the event is recorded and a‘miles-year-to-date’ 26 numeric value is included as part of thedataset. The data grid presented is for illustration purposes only andthe reader will readily understand that any real system would certainlyinclude many more data fields which contribute ultimately to theexpression of an operator performance measure. For example, detailedspeed data, braking and acceleration measurements, engine speed,steering position, et cetera. These factors and many others are omittedfrom the diagram to avoid a crowded illustration, but are explicitlymeant to be included as part of any high performance system.

For this example, each record belongs to the vehicle operator named‘Jones’ 27. A binary indication 28 marks the record capture on Jul. 14,2005 as one in which an exception event is characterized as including aspeeding incident. The event record captured Jul. 8, 2005 includes data29 which indicates the event was classified as an ‘accident’. An eventrecord of these example systems preferably includes date and mileageinformation which is useful for providing ‘related rate’ typeperformance measures. For example, we can use two separate event records210, applying subtraction analysis therebetween to conclude that Joneshas committed to speeding violations in a 31 day period. Another way toexpress Jones' performance with regard to speeding is to consider thatmileage in computing a “speeding infractions per mile” measure, we cansay that Jones has attracted two speeding violations in 248 miles orapproximately equivalent to 0.8 violations per hundred miles. Of course,if we consider Jones' entire recorded history, we can figure Jones makes0.02 speeding violations per hundred miles or: (3×100/14845). Theseillustrate very simplified mathematical analysis between related (byoperator) event record data which express a driver performance measure.

It is important to direct attention to the automated nature of thesesystems. While it may not be precisely novel to merely compute“violations per mile” in connection with some particular vehicleoperator, these systems stand alone and in stark contrast as they arebased upon automated collection of event data in response to a triggeredexception event and automated association of the captured data and theidentity of operators to which it belongs. Further, these systems arebased upon analysis which may be applied to so captured organized andstored data to yield a vehicle operator performance measure whichexpresses the quality of a vehicle operator. All systems not havingvehicle mounted trigger event data capture devices, rely on manualmanipulation and management of information to arrive at similardescriptions of driver performance. Presently one need only visit thelocal Department of Motor Vehicles to receive a computerized record ofdriving performance from data stored this way. However this record ofdriving performance is not compiled from automated systems which connectuser identity with data captured in real-time on a vehicle mountedsystem.

Better appreciation is realized in a further consideration of the blockdiagram illustrated as FIG. 3. An associator 31 is coupled to a database32 and analyzer 33 as shown. The associator is connected to receiveevent records 34 from a vehicle event recorder 35. When an event trigger36 fires, an exception event is declared and data is captured by thevehicle event recorder, particularly: camera 37, and various vehiclesubsystems coupled sensors 38. Captured data is assembled together toform an event record including both discrete numeric data andnon-discrete data for example video image series. In addition toreceiving event records from time-to-time, an associator also is coupledto a vehicle event recorder to receive operator identity information andsometimes vehicle identity information. An operator identity system 39is provided to pass a unique identifier which is assigned to preciselyone single vehicle operator to the associator. In some versions avehicle identity system is similarly devised to pass vehicle identityinformation to the associator. The associator thereafter effects aconnection or association between received event record and vehicleoperator identity to perfect an event record dataset. An event recorddataset 311 is comprised of event record data, operator and/or vehicleidentity information, and association therebetween the two. As such,this information is passed into a data storage system configured as anelectronic relational database. The event record dataset may be insertedinto the database and created as a new record having an index valueassigned thereto which assures the record can be distinguished from anyother which may arrive later or has already arrived in the database.

In some best versions, and analyzer may include a user interface 312which might be used to call prepared algorithms from a library 313 oralternatively might be used to manually form queries 314 which can berun against data stored in the database. Alternatively, procedures maybe embodied as “stored procedures” in the database may be called by theanalyzer in response to user inputs received at the user interface. Uponsuccessful execution of a query or stored procedure, a resultset 315 ispassed back to the analyzer. A resultset can be used to drive externalsystems. In a first instance, a result set can be used in a simplereport 317 which expresses an operator performance measure. Just asfinancial and credit worthiness of us all are measured via a so called‘FICO’ score, these systems will permit professional drivers to beeasily measured and associated with a running single-value performancescore or measure. Of course the systems will be adopted early byprofessional fleets and their employees, however it is entirely possiblethat all permitted drivers will soon benefit from these systems whichoperate to measure vehicle operator performance.

Output results (resultsets) may also be compared to a prescribedthreshold value in an external system which takes an action based uponvalues arrived at in these resultsets. When an operator performancevalue or coefficient 318 exceeds a prescribed limit, an action may beset into motion. For example, if the driver performance value fallsbelow some predetermined level, a driver may be subject to a counselingsession. Thus, these resultsets can be used to automate a program ofdriver education and guidance in response to poor driving as detected ina vehicle event recorder.

Methods of these systems are similar in nature. They are nicelyillustrated by block diagrams of FIGS. 4 and 5. In a first process, anassociator is arranged to receive an event record 41. From a coupledvehicle event recorder in response to a triggered event, data capturedduring the event is passed to the associator. The associator further isconnected to systems which provide identity indication with respect tovehicle operators and/or vehicles, and identity information is received42 accordingly. In possession of data described, an association isformed 43 to connect the captured data which characterizes the event tothe vehicle operator who was operating the vehicle at the time of theevent declaration. A machine processable identity code for example isjoined with the video and other data to form a complete event recorddataset. A event record dataset is then in proper form to be conveyed 44to a relational database system. In a process step, the associator incommunication via prescribed database interfaces with the databasesystem, conveys an event record comprising: event data, operator/vehicleidentity information, and an association therebetween. The databasesystem receives event record datasets from the associator and stores 45them in durable memory. A relational database provides indexing means toassure record integrity and these event record datasets are handled inthis manner. Each received event record data set is automaticallyassigned a unique identifier which maintains a connection between allfields or data elements of the record. While the data is in storage andunder safekeeping at the database, a process loop 46 resets the vehicleevent recorder to receive and convey additional event record datasetsnot related in time to the earlier received conveyance.

A database system in communicative relation with an analyzer conveys 47resultsets to the analyzer for application of algorithms andmathematical analysis 48. In some preferred versions, the analyzer sendsqueries into the database system or calls stored procedures thereinwhich may be executed to produce highly directed results sets. A finalprocess may be initiated where an output action 49 is taken. In a simplefirst example of an output action, a report is produced where the reportincludes an operation performance measure. Another example includes thatwhere an external system is prompted to begin. If a performance measureexceeds a prescribed value, a call to the external system is made as aresult. This may be as simple as sending an e-mail warning via anelectronic mail server (i.e. the external system).

FIG. 5 illustrates these methods in more detail. And associator forms anassociation 51 between event data including video and numeric datacaptured to characterize an exception event in a motor vehicle. Theevent record dataset is stored 52 with a unique identifier via an indexscheme whereby the data can be sorted and processed as distinguishablefrom all similar records. To a collection of event records so stored inthe database mathematical analysis may be applied 53 to produce anoutput 54 to a display, printer or other external system.

The method starts in response to an event trigger 55 of a vehicle eventrecorder which indicates the occurrence of an exception. In responsethereto, video data is preserved 56 from periods before and after theevent moment. In addition, discrete value data is also collected 57 fromthe electronic detectors coupled to vehicle subsystems. Data whichcharacterizes the event is assembled together as an information packetto form an event record 58. The event record is passed 59 to theassociator. Aside from this process, additional information is preparedand passed into the associator. In some versions, a user input isreceived 510 for example at a login keypad or smartcard reader, thatuser input specifying an authorized operator identity. A coded inputprearranged with an association to a particular vehicle operator isreceived to alert the system as to the identity of the driver. Anauthorization check 511 may be used to verify a valid code. The currentvehicle operator identity is conveyed 512 to the associator any time anevent occurs such that it may be appropriately combined with andconnected to the event data. The associator modifies the event record byadding operator and sometimes vehicle identity information thus formingan association therebetween to form an event record dataset. The datasetis arranged in a form suitable for cooperation with relational databasestructures including data type and indices considerations such that whenconveyed to the database via an “insert” operation, the data is placedin table(s) as one of a plurality of similarly arranged records. Thepreceding portion of the method may be executed repeatedly in a loop toeffect capture of many event record datasets that each have its ownassociation with a particular single.

The method continues with the steps where analysis of collected data isapplied. An analyzer is arranged to read database records and processthem to arrive at a result which is based upon the information containedtherein especially as it applies to a particular vehicle operator. Thesystem is extremely powerful in-part because it can consider a pluralityof event records each associated with a different event but identicaloperator. Accordingly, these analysis yield valuable performanceindicators which relate to a vehicle operator.

In preferred embodiments, and analyzer includes an administratorworkstation having a graphical user interface 514 whose state asmanipulated by the administrator controls 515 how the analysis is takenup. A database query is formed 516 and transmitted 517 over acommunications link to the database where the query may be appliedagainst the stored data. After execution of the query, the databaseproduces a resultset and conveys 518 that back to the analyzer as aquery response.

From the input at the administrator database, an appropriate algorithmis selected 519 and applied to the resultset to further process thedata. One important aspect includes forming an operator performancereport 520 which reflects the quality of performance by a single orselected group of vehicle operators. In addition to a compound reportwhich may include many separate factors, a single value performancescore is computed 521. Separate performance measures are combined viaweighted coefficients to arrive at a normalized single-value score. Thescore is particularly valuable because it is easily standardized andpermits a relative basis upon which all participating drivers may beaccurately compared. For example, highest performance driver in thesystem may be assigned a score of 1 and all others some value between 1and 0 to reflect their performance in relation to the system theuniverse of operators.

A vehicle operator performance measure may be provided by a systemhaving an associator; a data store; and an analyzer. The associator‘connects’ or forms an association between event records and an operatoridentity as part of a dataset which is transmitted to the data store. Ananalyzer is arranged to apply mathematical processing and analysisagainst stored datasets to produce a vehicle operator performancemeasure.

In a vehicle event recorder, an exception event results in the captureof information which may be used to characterize the event and status ofthe vehicle and operator. Once information relating to a particularevent is captured, that information is associated with a particularvehicle operator to form a dataset suitable for long term storage in adatabase. Events taking place at a later time which might be similarlystored, may include the same vehicle operator. As such, it is possibleto run a statistical analysis on all events associated with a particularvehicle operator and to draw performance algorithms which yield aperformance measure type result. For example, a first performancemeasure might simply include the number of events occurred per miledriven. Another performance indicator might be number of crash typeincidents per mile driven. An more complex algorithm might include bothof these measures and a weighting factor for each. For example:performance measure=(Events/Mile)*3+(Crashes/Mile)*8; where 3 and 8 areweighting factors.

As such, an associator is a subsystem arranged to form a connectionbetween information captured in an event and information which uniquelyidentifies a vehicle operator; namely the vehicle operator responsiblefor the vehicle at the time of the event—a logged on driver. Anassociator comprises a logic processor arranged to receive both eventdata information and operator identity information and to assemble thatinformation according to protocol demanded at a database. A databaserecord structure having a one-to-one correspondence between events andvehicle operators is an example of an enforced relationship in suchrecord structures prepared by an associator.

An analyzer is provided with a priori knowledge of these data structuressuch that it might execute machine operations against stored data whicheffect analysis on several event records; each of which may beassociated with a particular vehicle operator or vehicle operator group.An analyzer might include: a graphical user interface; a query facility;and an algorithm library as part of its subsystems. The graphical userinterface can be arranged to: receive inputs from a user; to drive queryformation in agreement with received inputs; and further to selectalgorithms from the algorithm library. In this way, an analyzer readsand processes stored event data to formulate a result which is a vehicleoperator performance measure.

These systems for producing a vehicle operator performance measure mayinclude a set of electronic transducers coupled to various of thevehicle environments and systems to capture information relating tovehicle operation or performance. Outputs from these electronictransducers are assembled together in an ‘information package’ togetheras event records which may be taken up by the associator. By example,these sensors may include any of those from the group: imager;accelerometer; speedometer; position; orientation; time; and any ofstandard vehicle systems status indicators including: engine speed,temperature; braking; gear ratio; and steering wheel position.

In addition to these electronic transducers, a system also includes anoperator identity system to make discrete and provide an indicationwhich expresses a vehicle operator's identity. The expression of avehicle operator's identity may be conveyed from the operator identitysystem to the associator where that identity indicator may becomeassociated with various event data.

In a more complete sense, these systems are considered to also includethe vehicle event recorder which has at least one imager, memory; and anevent trigger. This vehicle event recorder being arranged to produceevent records in response to a toggle action of an event trigger. Toggleof the event trigger not only causes information from said sensors to becaptured, but also to be further associated with a particular vehicleoperator identity.

In best versions, an operator identity system includes a memory withstored values each associated with at least one particular vehicleoperator. An operator identity system may be at least partly integratedwith a vehicle event recorder; or in contrast may be implemented in partat a download server.

This invention disclosure also includes methods. In particular, thesemethods may be expressed in general terms as including the followingsteps. A ‘receiving an event record’ step where a vehicle event recordercaptures information relating to a declared exception event, i.e. inresponse to a trigger; for example a video record of environments abouta subject vehicle and sensor data relating to a vehicles systems. A‘receiving identity information’ step is performed where a discreteindication of a particular vehicle operator, or a unique identifierassigned to a particular vehicle or vehicle fleet, is received at anassociator where the associator performs the next step.

A ‘forming an association’ step connects the event record with receivedvehicle operator identity information thus forming a dataset recordhaving: event record, identity information, and the associationtherebetween. A well-formed database record might include: event recordinformation, identity information, and an association therebetween. Thedatabase record includes a plurality of field elements, each fieldelement having a prescribed data type and value assigned thereto, thevalues reflecting information received as an event record and identityinformation.

Further, the methods include storing the dataset record in a databasefor long term storage. Ideally, for a term long enough where other eventrecords are also added to the database. Each dataset record hasinformation from an event record captured at a time different than thecapture time of all other dataset records.

Dataset records are recalled in a query step where they may be sortedand selectively chosen in accordance with an index—for example, allevent records of the month of September associated with a certaindriver. Upon the carefully selected records recalled as described, amathematical analysis may be applied to produce an output which mightreflect a vehicle operators performance. executing an algorithm torealize a ratio between the resultant of two algorithms applied to twodifferent field elements.

A mathematical analysis is applied in a method step directed to addressany plurality of event records. An prescribed algorithm arranged toeffect a ratio between any two field elements is particularly useful inexpressing some driver performance measures and those are explicitlypart of these teachings. A ratio with a time based unit in thedenominator is exemplary. For example, the “number of infractions peryear” is a ratio of considerable importance for expressing a driverperformance. Another is “number of infractions per mile”. Of course,reciprocals are equally effective in expressing the same information andare considered included alternatives.

Results from mathematical analysis may be expressed in several waysincluding real-time graphical display, printed reports, as inputs totriggers. Thus, methods of these inventions include ‘providing an outputreport’ step is further characterized as a report having a plurality ofresultants produced by application of the mathematical analysis.

A driver performance report of particular importance includes asingle-value performance coefficient which is derived from the resultsof and plurality of analysis. Weighted coefficients applied to algorithmresultants form basis for such single-value output in best arrangements.

One will now fully appreciate how video event recording systems providefoundation for systems which yield driver performance measures. Althoughthe present inventions have been described in considerable detail withclear and concise language and with reference to certain preferredversions thereof including best modes anticipated by the inventors,other versions are possible. Therefore, the spirit and scope of theinvention should not be limited by the description of the preferredversions contained therein, but rather by the claims appended hereto.

It is claimed:
 1. A system configured to determine a vehicle operatorperformance measure, the system comprising: an operator identity systemlocated remotely from the vehicle configured to receive entry and/orselection of operator identity information by operators of the vehiclethat identifies periods of time individual operators operate thevehicle, the operator identity information including first operatoridentity information that identifies a first period of time a firstoperator operates the vehicle; an associator configured to: receive thefirst operator identity information; receive event records that includeinformation related to vehicle operation and/or performance duringcorresponding vehicle events that occur during operation of the vehicle,the event records including a first event record that corresponds to afirst vehicle event and a second event record that corresponds to asecond vehicle event; associate the event records and the operatoridentity information such that, by virtue of the first vehicle event andthe second vehicle event occurring during the first period of time thefirst operator operates the vehicle, the first event record isassociated with the first operator identity information for the firstoperator via a first association, and the second event record isassociated with the first operator identity information for the firstoperator via a second association; form datasets comprising the operatoridentity information and the associated event records such that a firstdataset includes the first operator identity information and the firstassociated event record, and a second dataset includes the firstoperator identity information and the second associated event record;and transmit the datasets to a data store that is located remotely fromthe vehicle; and an analyzer configured to retrieve the datasets fromthe data store and analyze the datasets, including the first dataset andthe second dataset, to determine a vehicle operator performance measurefor the first operator.
 2. The system of claim 1, further comprising aset of electronic transducers, individual ones of the transducers beingcoupled to vehicle environments or vehicle systems and configured togenerate output signals conveying information relating to vehicleoperation and/or performance.
 3. The system of claim 2, wherein theassociator is configured such that the event records include theinformation conveyed by the output signals.
 4. The system of claim 2,wherein the transducers include one or more of an imager; a videorecorder; an accelerometer; a speedometer; a position sensor; anorientation sensor; a time sensor; or a vehicle systems statusindicator, the vehicle systems status indicator including one or more ofan engine speed indicator, a temperature indicator; a braking indicator;a gear ratio indicator; or a steering position indicator.
 5. The systemof claim 3, further comprising a vehicle event recorder, the vehicleevent recorder being comprised of an imager, memory, and an eventtrigger, the vehicle event recorder arranged to produce event records inresponse to a toggle of said event trigger.
 6. The system of claim 5,wherein the associator is configured such that toggling the eventtrigger causes the information conveyed by the output signals to becaptured as a portion of an event record and to be associated with thefirst operator identity information.
 7. The system of claim 1, whereinthe associator is configured to form datasets comprising the firstoperator identity information and associated event records for one ormore operation sessions by the first operator.
 8. The system of claim 1,wherein the operator identity system includes a memory with storedvalues associated with at least the first operator of the vehicle. 9.The system of claim 8, wherein the operator identity system isintegrated with a vehicle event recorder.
 10. The system of claim 8,wherein the operator identity system includes an integrated downloadserver.
 11. A method for determining a vehicle operator performancemeasure with a determination system, the determination system comprisingan associator, an operator identity system, and an analyzer, the methodcomprising: receiving, with one or more processors of the associator, anevent record, the event record including information related to vehicleoperation and/or performance during a corresponding vehicle event thatoccurs during operation of the vehicle; receiving, with one or moreprocessors of the operator identity system, operator identityinformation, wherein receiving operator identity information includesreceiving entry and/or selection of operator identity information byoperators of the vehicle via an interface located remotely from thevehicle that identifies periods of time individual operators operate thevehicle, the operator identity information including first operatoridentity information that identifies a first period of time that a firstoperator operates the vehicle; associating, with the one or moreprocessors of the associator, the received event record and the receivedoperator identity information such that, by virtue of the vehicle eventoccurring during the first period of time, the event record isassociated with the first operator identity information for the firstoperator; forming, with the one or more processors of the associator, adataset record comprising the event record and the associated firstoperator identity information; storing, with the one or more processorsof the associator, said dataset record in a database with other datasetrecords; recalling, with one or more processors of the analyzer, aplurality of dataset records from said database; applying, with the oneor more processors of the analyzer, a mathematical analysis uponelements of the dataset records; and providing, with the one or moreprocessors of the analyzer, an output report based upon results of theapplied mathematical analysis.
 12. The method of claim 11, wherein said‘receiving an event record’ step is further characterized as receiving,with the one or more processors of the associator, from a vehicle eventrecorder information captured in response to a triggered event.
 13. Themethod of claim 12, wherein said information captured in response to atriggered event includes a video record of environments about a subjectvehicle.
 14. The method of claim of claim 11, wherein said ‘receivingidentity information’ step is further characterized as receiving, withthe one or more processors of the associator, a unique identifierassigned to one or more of an individual operator, an individualvehicle, or a vehicle fleet.
 15. The method of claim 11, wherein said‘forming an association’ step is further characterized as connecting,joining, or associating received operator and/or vehicle informationwith a particular event record.
 16. The method of claim 11, wherein saiddatabase record includes a plurality of field elements, each fieldelement having a prescribed data type and value assigned thereto, thevalues reflecting information received as an event record and/oridentity information.
 17. The method of claim 11, wherein said‘recalling a plurality of dataset records’ step is further characterizedas recalling, with the one or more processors of the analyzer, onlythose records associated with the first operator.
 18. The method ofclaim 11, wherein said ‘recalling a plurality of dataset records’ stepis further characterized as recalling, with the one or more processorsof the analyzer, only those records associated with a particularvehicle.
 19. The method of claim 11, wherein said ‘recalling a pluralityof dataset records’ step is further characterized as recalling, with theone or more processors of the analyzer, only those records associatedwith a particular fleet of vehicles.
 20. The method of claim 16, whereinsaid ‘applying mathematical analysis’ step is further characterized asexecuting, with the one or more processors of the analyzer, an algorithmon a plurality of dataset records, each dataset record comprisingtherein information from an event record captured at a time differentthan the capture time of all other dataset records, the algorithm beingapplied to a common field of each recalled dataset record.
 21. Themethod of claim 20, wherein said ‘applying mathematical analysis’ stepis further characterized as executing, with the one or more processorsof the analyzer, an algorithm to realize a ratio between the resultantof two algorithms applied to two different field elements.
 22. Themethod of claim 21, wherein said ratio comprises a time based unit inthe denominator.
 23. The method of claim 21, wherein said ratiocomprises a distance based unit in the denominator.
 24. The method ofclaim 11, wherein said ‘providing an output report’ step is furthercharacterized as a report having a plurality of resultants produced byapplication of the mathematical analysis.
 25. The method of claim 24,wherein said output report comprises a single value operator performancecoefficient produced by application of a prescribed algorithm havingcomponents driven by outputs of other algorithms.
 26. The method ofclaim 25, wherein said single value is based upon weighted coefficientsbeing applied to algorithm resultants.
 27. The method of claim 11,wherein said ‘providing an output report’ step is further characterizedas producing, with the one or more processors of the analyzer, a textand graphic indicia on printed media.
 28. The method of claim 11,wherein said ‘providing an output report’ step is further characterizedas producing, with the one or more processors of the analyzer, a textand graphic display at on an opto-electric display device.
 29. Themethod of claim 28, wherein the report includes hyperlinks having URLsassociated with video captured in response to an event trigger.
 30. Thesystem of claim 1, wherein the operator identity system is configured toreceive entry and/or selection of the first operator identityinformation via one or more of tactile input through a user interface ora smart card reader.
 31. The system of claim 1, wherein the analyzer isconfigured to apply the mathematical analysis to produce a first vehicleoperator performance measure comprising a single score that reflects theperformance of the first operator.
 32. The system of claim 31, whereinthe analyzer is configured such that the single score is a score between0 and 1 and indicates a level of performance of the first operatorrelative to other operators.
 33. The system of claim 32, wherein theanalyzer is configured to assign a best performing operator a score of 1and to assign a score between 0 and 1 to other individual operators toreflect the performance of an individual operator relative to the bestperforming operator.